From alliums to zinnias, The Flower Recipe Book (Artisan Books, 2013) by Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo acts as a floral encyclopedia, with complete intros to 50 blooms—from the correct pronunciation of flower names to the spectrum of colors they come in, to what’s in season, when, and details specific to each varietal. The Flower Recipe Book provides information on how to arrange flowers with arrangements that run the gamut of styles and techniques, from elegant and structured to wild and lovely, for occasions big and small. Check out the following excerpt for instructions on how to arrange zinnias.
Zinnia Bouquet
FLOWERS
• 20 zinnias
• 4 stems of amaranthus
• 2 stems of lupine
• 4 stems of veronica
VESSEL
• Hanging basket
1. Using a hanging basket provides the opportunity to bring an arrangement into an area that may not be suited for a traditional tabletop piece.
2. Trim all the zinnias and fill the basket so that the lower leaves rest at the rim.
3. Trim and add the amaranthus to the front and left side of the basket, allowing the blooms to hang over the rim.
4. Trim and add the stems of lupine to the back right side of the basket so that the spires sit several inches above the zinnias. Finish by trimming the stems of veronica to a similar height and adding two stems to the center and two stems to the back left side.
Excerpted from The Flower Recipe Book by Alethea Harampolis and Jill Rizzo (Artisan Books). Copyright © 2013. Photographs by Paige Green.
